Why Do Students Flock to MOOC's?

Interviews: Jeffrey R. Young; Photos: Noah Berger; Design: Brock Read

More than 900,000 students have signed up for the so-called massively open online courses offered by major universities through Coursera. The upstart company, which began operating earlier this year, held its first official meet-up on Saturday, in a park near its headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. Some 650 students attended. The Chronicle asked a sample of students at the event to explain their motivation for working through the courses, which carry no official credit. | Related Story

Kimberly Spillman

38, San Diego

"I was socializing with students way more than I ever had. We'd hang out in the pub."

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Charles Clark

59, Washington, D.C.

"I could have bought a book, but I think having a fixed deadline has a lot of value."

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Yichuan Cao

23, Mountain View, Calif.

"I probably wouldn't put that on my resumé, but I would say I know how to do it."

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Amy Tam

42, Sunnyvale, Calif.

"What I am hoping for is, if there are questions, the local study group will help."